Further Particulars: background information, job
description, person specification, application process and
recruitment timetable
Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa
___________________________________________________________
Head of Academy
2013
Heidrick & Struggles advises AKA, Mombasa on the basis of an exclusive consulting assignment.
Heidrick & Struggles
Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa
AGA KHAN ACADEMY, MOMBASA
The Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa is an independent boarding and day school of 700 boys and
girls between the ages of 6 and 18, situated on the south coast of Mombasa Island. There are 240
residential students, over 90 teaching staff and over 20 support staff. The Academy has an annual
income of $4m.
Founded in 2003, the Academy is the first of an intended network of 18 schools governed by the
Aga Khan Academies Unit, a division within the Aga Khan Development Network. The schools
are run on a not-for-profit basis and admission is means-blind and merit-based. In practice this
means that selection is based not on ability to pay but academic, and overall, potential, supported
by a generous offering of bursaries.
In founding the Aga Khan Academies, His Highness the Aga Khan wished to expand access to an
education of international excellence for children from pre-primary to advanced secondary, in
countries where first-class schooling is not readily available. A strong emphasis is placed on
concentrating substantial resources on those exceptional individuals – students and teachers – who
have the potential to transform society.
The Academy’s goal to develop young people who have strong local roots and are also globally
minded is advanced through the international education afforded by the IB Primary Years, Middle
Years and Diploma programmes. The critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills
developed by the IB form the academic backbone of the curriculum, in addition to which the
Academy has identified five additional areas of learning to support the development of knowledge,
skills and attitudes required of future leaders encompassing: ethics, pluralism, economics for
development, cultures and governance and civil society.
Instruction is in English but each student is expected to study an additional language. Children in
the Junior School are taught in Kiswahili as part of the dual-language programme. The Academy
offers a broad, multidisciplinary education with an emphasis on the humanities.
The Academy is part of several partnerships and associations that have been formed with leading
academic institutions, including institutions in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. These
partnerships contribute to the quality of the curriculum and to professional development
programmes. They also ensure that the Academies maintain and enhance their international
standing. Of particular note, the Academies have signed Memoranda of Understanding with the
International Baccalaureate Organisation and with the University of California Los Angeles
Graduate School of Education and Information Studies to collaborate on curriculum development
and teacher professional development. These agreements build on longer-standing arrangements,
including the International Academic Partnership (IAP), which includes Phillips Academy in the
United States, the Schule Schloss Salem in Germany, the Aga Khan University’s Institute for
Educational Development in Pakistan, and Aga Khan Education Services schools in a number of
countries.
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Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa
Mombasa is a major cultural and economic hub in Kenya and, more broadly, in East Africa. Its
location on the east coast of the continent, bordering the Indian Ocean, made it a strategic trading
centre historically and has led to the city being the second largest in the country. Typically for a
port city with large shipping and maritime industries, as well as its geographic proximity to Nairobi,
South Asia and Zanzibar, the population of well over a million is home to a diverse array of
cultures. The city is now an important centre of coastal tourism, served by an international airport.
THE HEAD OF ACADEMY
The Head of Academy is the chief executive of the school and is appointed by and accountable to
the Director of the Academies Unit (AU). He/she has responsibility for all aspects of the
Academy’s day-to-day running within the strategic and financial policy framework established in
consultation with the AU and for the realisation of His Highness the Aga Khan’s vision for the
Academy.
Tasks and responsibilities

Ensure that the Academy is distinctive and relevant, through the provision of an outstanding
and transformative international education for students from different countries (principally
East African) and a diverse range of backgrounds.

Articulate and deliver a clear educational vision that embodies the values of the Academy
and builds on the strengths of the AU and AKDN, including academic excellence, service
ethos and intercultural understanding.

As a role model to pupils and staff, set high standards of personal conduct, dealing with
discipline firmly yet fairly.

Develop strong personal relationships with parents and students by being visible and
accessible.

Further develop and embed appropriate management structures and build high performing
teams, continuing to attract, develop and retain excellent staff.

Maintain communications within, across and outside the Academy, fostering openness,
transparency and collaboration.

Champion the Academy in its dealings with other schools and organisations, ensuring it is
embedded in the local community and connected nationally and internationally.

Develop and deliver effective marketing strategies and admission policies to recruit students
with diverse cultural, social and economic backgrounds working in partnership with other
agencies within the AKDN and beyond.
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Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa

Balance the needs of a complex set of stakeholders encompassing teachers, non-teaching
staff, students, parents, alumni, local community representatives, AU and AKDN staff,
governments and private donors.

Lead the implementation of AU policies within the Academy and play a full part in the
affairs of the AU and AKDN (including travel to meetings as appropriate). Develop the
Academy’s links with other academies in the network and other schools and educational
organisations beyond.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Candidates will be talented school leaders who identify closely with the mission of the Aga Khan
Academy and display deep cultural awareness and who will have experience of living and working
in developing economies ideally with some time spent in Africa. With enthusiasm and empathy,
you will champion the Academy, engage actively in all aspects of its life and inspire and deliver the
next phase of its development.
We seek individuals with high levels of stamina, the interpersonal skills and intellect to command
the respect of a wide range of people and the sensitivity and humility to engage broadly whilst
determining strategy and policy. A sense of humour coupled with a deep understanding of young
people and their motivations, hopes and aspirations are also key qualities.
Candidates will be expected to demonstrate that they meet a number of criteria encompassing
experience and qualifications, leadership competences and personal characteristics (listed below but
not exhaustive).
Experience, knowledge and qualifications

Leadership and management – tested successfully in positions of authority/influence in
schools with strong reputations for educational excellence.

Academic leadership – proven educational leader and thinker, respected by academic
colleagues with a record of improving teaching and learning, and introducing new
pedagogical techniques and attitudes.

Cultural awareness – experience of living and working in developing economies ideally with
some time spent in Africa.

Team building – proven ability to develop effective management structures and build, lead
and develop teams, aligning activities, setting objectives and assessing performance within an
established vision.
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Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa

Experience of the IB – ideally with broad understanding of the full IB continuum (PYP –
MYP – Diploma).

Experience of boarding / residential community life – ideally time spent in a co-educational
boarding school or the ability to adapt to residential community life.

External relations – experience of marketing a school to parents and able to demonstrate a
capacity to build successful relationships with donors, funders, corporations, governmental
organisations, other schools and NGOs.

Financial management – experience of working in schools with constrained finances;
appreciative of the need to be engaged in developing strategic and operational plans, of
utilising and allocating resources wisely and of establishing sustainable budgets and
successfully implementing them whilst instinctively knowing what aspects of a school budget
must be protected to assure quality.
Leadership competences

External awareness – an informed and critical awareness of the prevailing and evolving trends
in the wider educational world.

Internal awareness – organisationally sensitive, with a genuine interest in people at all levels and
a deep understanding of boarding education and its rewards and challenges.

Vision and creativity – able to craft a compelling vision, conveying it with consistency and
passion and think in new ways about problems, inspiring innovative solutions.

Leadership – strong team leader as well as team player with well-developed influencing skills,
able to secure engagement at all levels and comfortable delegating and empowering.

Relationship building – able to establish and sustain strong relationships with parents, students,
teaching and non-teaching staff, AU and AKDN staff, alumni and other stakeholders.

People development – identifies, recruits and retains the best teaching and non-teaching talent;
brings the best out in others, coaches to improve performance and creates opportunities and
provides support for career development.
Personal characteristics

Intellectual capacity and stamina to deal with a wide span of duties, and the flexibility to
balance the internal and external demands of the role of Head of Academy within an NGO
framework.
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Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa

Open minded and intellectually curious with the personality to inspire others to push
boundaries too, and the confidence as a leader to handle the consequences of an active,
engaged and challenging staff-student community.

Team leader and builder, a confident delegator able to deliver through others, empowering
staff to take responsibility recognising that this is also the best way of developing future
leaders.

High level of emotional intelligence; a strong judge of character able to spot talent, recruit,
develop and retain excellent staff and forge successful and diverse teams.

Collaborative approach, able to harness the power and support of the network within which
the Academy exists and a willingness to play a leadership role in and across the Academies
Unit and AKDN.

Excellent communicator, visible and accessible, and adept at conveying a vision and inspiring
others to support and drive through initiatives.

Consensual yet decisive; able to inspire and energise debate, facilitate group thinking and
move assertively to decision making. Confidence to encourage dialogue on key issues and
willingly seeks input and advice from all quarters of the community.

Strong cultural awareness with total commitment to the values of a Kenyan international
residential school. Adaptable yet also open-minded, accepting of differing points of view
with commitment to fostering a community in which all parts feel valued and motivated to
participate.

Given the distinctive character of the Academy, empathy with its culture, people and
working practices will be essential, so too a firm belief in the values of service, community,
pluralism and education as the key drivers of developing future leaders.

Instinctive understanding of what constitutes ‘excellence’ and what it takes to achieve and
sustain it, with a determination to constantly seek improvement for students, staff and all
stakeholders.
TERMS OF APPOINTMENT
The Head of Academy’s remuneration package will be competitive and reflect the significance of
the role. The Academy will take into account the particular circumstances of each individual
candidate. The package will include salary, housing (free of rent), economy class flights home for
Head and spouse once a year, medical insurance, transportation and locally administered pension.
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Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Overview
The appointment of the Head of Academy is the responsibility of the Director of the Academies
Unit. A Selection Committee has been established to oversee the recruitment process and has
retained Heidrick & Struggles to support and advise, both in the identification of the most diverse
and talented range of candidates possible and in the assessment of candidates.
How to apply
Applications consisting of a full curriculum vitae and a covering letter (containing the names and
contact details of four referees) should be sent to [email protected] or 40 Argyll Street, London
W1F 7EB.
To arrange a conversation in confidence with Alex Acland of Heidrick & Struggles, please call
Samantha James on 00 44 20 7075 4079 or email at [email protected].
Key dates
September – October 2013: informal discussions and interviews with Heidrick & Struggles.
Late October/early November: first round interviews with Selection Committee via
video/teleconference.
Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd December: final interviews, candidates with spouses/partners invited
to attend interviews and meetings at the Academy in Mombasa.
Wednesday 4th December: candidates with spouses/partners fly to Paris.
Thursday 5th and Friday 6th December: candidates to attend final interviews and meetings with the
Director of the Academies Unit and other senior managers.
Finalists will be asked to complete a medical questionnaire and if required an online psychometric
test. References will also be taken.
An appointment is expected to be made by the close of 2013 for a start in summer 2014.
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Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa
CONTACT DETAILS
Alexander Acland
Principal
London
direct line +44 (0)20 7075 4350
mobile +44 (0)7956 260 136
e-mail [email protected]
Antonia Storey
Associate
London
direct line +44 (0)20 7075 4119
e-mail [email protected]
Zalfa Chamoun
Associate
London
direct line +44 (0)20 7075 4077
e-mail [email protected]
Samantha James
Executive Assistant to Alex Acland
London
direct line +44 (0)20 7075 4079
e-mail [email protected]
Heidrick & Struggles (UK) Ltd
40 Argyll Street
London W1F 7EB
telephone +44 (0)20 7075 4000
www.heidrick.com
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